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August 2006
***Issues with View Account Status in My eBay***

30 August, 2006 | 09:27


Some members may be having difficulties seeing information related to their selling accounts in the View Account Status section of My eBay. They may also be seeing a “Start Selling” link in My eBay instead of the “All Selling” link.

We’re aware of this issue and are working to fix it as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience.
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***Save The Date: Town Hall with Bill Cobb on Wednesday, September 6th***

29 August, 2006 | 13:18


Bill Cobb

Hi everyone...this is Bill Cobb, President of eBay North America. I'm here to invite you to our next Town Hall event on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 from 7:00-8:00pm ET.

Students are returning to school, and buyers and sellers are gearing up for the busy shopping season before the holidays. My leadership team and I are ready to answer any of your questions during this open topic Town Hall, plus hear your suggestions for how we can improve your experience on eBay.

To submit your question, visit our Town Hall page at www.ebay.com/townhall. We will also answer questions you submit to us live during the event.

You can listen to the audio of this Town Hall through Windows Media Player or through Real Player. Details on how to download and install the latest versions of both of these are available on our Town Hall page.

Thanks, and I hope you'll join us on Wednesday, September 6th.

Sincerely,

Bill Cobb
President, eBay North America


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***Canadian Seller Profitability***

29 August, 2006 | 13:11


Jordan Banks

Dear eBay Canada Community,

I am writing to you today as both the Managing Director of eBay Canada, and as an eBay seller myself. To me, and to everyone in our office, it becomes more evident every day that the economic realities for Canadians trying to sell on eBay are getting progressively more difficult.

With this in mind, I wanted to let you know we are committed to (and very serious about) doing whatever we can to improve the situation. "Seller profitability” is top of mind with me, and with the team in this office. You have my promise that an immediate and clear focus will be placed on making selling on eBay a more compelling and profitable endeavour for Canadians.

We recently took a look at our overall business priorities for the next year, and have adjusted them to include a strong focus on improving Canadian seller profitability. To jumpstart our initiatives, I want to share with you part of our information gathering action plan for the next 60 days:

  1. Canadian Seller Profitability email Box: An email address, sellereconomics@ebay.com, has been set up so that you can send your ideas, suggestions, and feedback directly to me and the Seller Profitability team.
  2. Seller Phone Interviews: As a seller, you will have the opportunity to arrange an interview, by telephone, with the Management team of eBay Canada. We have arranged a one-day "call-in” session for Canadian sellers to voice their ideas and suggestions in person. This one-day session will take place on Wednesday, September 6, 2006.
    Please click here to sign up for a designated timeslot. Note that spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
  3. Seller Profitability - A Priority at eBay Canada: Given our increased focus on seller profitability, it is obvious this issue must be the primary job of a dedicated eBay Canada employee to address and analyze the issues and your suggestions. We are making the arrangements now to make this a reality.
  4. Selling on eBay Discussion Board Dedicated Thread: I will be reading all posts to this thread on the Selling on eBay discussion board each morning, and incorporating them into our seller profitability strategy.
  5. Canadian Seller Profitability Forum: A one-day Seller Profitability Forum will be conducted in September at the eBay Canada office in Toronto. We will invite 10 to 12 Canadian eBay sellers, made up of a cross-section of sellers from various categories, businesses, and locations.

Now, here's what you can do to help us work towards our goal of ensuring better seller profitability:

For starters, we would like Canadian sellers to give us their thoughts, comments, ideas and suggestions (as "pie in the sky” or "humble” as they may be) through the above communication channels on the following potential areas of change:

  1. PayPal fees
  2. Shipping costs
  3. eBay insertion fees
  4. eBay final value fees
  5. eBay subscription fees
  6. eBay feature fees

In closing, I want you to know how dedicated we are to working with you, the Canadian eBay selling Community, to do something (or many somethings!) to improve your profitability on eBay. To arrive at the best solution, we will need your feedback - as often as you want and for as long as you want. Together, I know we can come up with some immediate and creative solutions to the economic issues many Canadian sellers are facing.

Thank you. You'll be hearing more shortly.

Jordan Banks
Managing Director
eBay Canada


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***eBay Agreement with Google***

28 August, 2006 | 08:48


In an expansion of our ongoing relationship, eBay and Google have agreed to work together in ways that complement our companies' strengths. Google will become the exclusive provider of text-based advertising in search results on eBay sites outside the United States. eBay plans to continue its longstanding advertising relationship with Google and work closely to optimize its online campaigns to help shoppers find eBay listings.

In addition, Google and eBay will work together to deliver "click-to-call" advertising functionality on eBay and Google sites in the United States and around the world. "Click-to-call" functionality enables online consumers to initiate an Internet voice call to merchants or advertisers directly.

The companies will start testing initiatives of the agreement beginning in early 2007, after the 2006 holiday shopping period. For more details of this agreement, please read our press release.


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***FREE LISTING WEEK for Motors Vehicles - August 20 -26, 2006***

19 August, 2006 | 14:19

What is it? It's a Free Listing Week for Motors Vehicles. This promotion is for Canadian residents, listing in Canadian dollars on the Canadian Motors site (http://cars.ebay.ca). The discounted fees will be immediately reflected on the Canadian Motors site.

When is it? It all starts Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 00:00:01 EDT (12:00 AM plus one second on August 20, 2006) and ends Saturday, August 26, 2006 23:59:59 EDT (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds on August 26, 2006).

Who is Included? This promotion is only open to residents of Canada. Listings must be in Canadian dollars and must be made on the Canadian Motors site in either Auction or Fixed Price format. Listings created prior to the promotion and scheduled to start during the promotional period of August 20-26, 2006 will be eligible for the promotional fee. Items that are re-listed that match the above eligibility will qualify for the promotion.

What is excluded? Users who are not residents of Canada will be excluded from this promotion. Listings created in a currency other than Canadian dollars or that are listed on a site other than the Canadian Motors site will be excluded. Listings in a category other than Motors Vehicles (such as Vehicle Parts & Accessories, Powersport Vehicles under 50cc, Business and Industrial Capital Equipment, Store Inventory Format and Real Estate Ad Format listings) will not be included in this promotion. The promotional rate does not apply to listings created prior to the promotional period and later revised during the promotional period. The promotional rate does not apply to listings created during the promotion August 20-26, 2006, but scheduled to start after the promotion ends.


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***Updated: Stores to Auction & Fixed Price Format - 10 cent Listings & Free Gallery***

16 August, 2006 | 16:10

When is it? Two days only, starting Tuesday, August 15, 2006 between 00:00:01 ET (12:00 AM plus one second on Tuesday, August 15, 2006) and ending on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 23:59:59 ET (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds).

When is it? Move your Store Inventory Format listings to Auction Format & Fixed Price listings for 10 cents. In addition you get FREE Gallery on your Auction Format & Fixed Price listings. PLUS users who list in Auction Format with Buy It Now feature upgrade do not pay for the Buy It Now feature upgrade.

Insertion fees for Auction Format & Fixed Price listings that have been moved from Store Inventory Format for Canadian registered users only will be revised on eBay.com, ebay.ca and eBay Motors (Parts and Accessories only.)

Eligible Store Inventory Format listings that are moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price prior to the promotion and are scheduled to start during the promotional period of August 15-16, 2006 will be eligible for the promotional fee.

The reduced fees for this promotion will not be immediately reflected on the site. Users will receive a credit to their account by September 30, 2006 or before.

What is excluded? New Store Inventory format listings that have not been moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price per the stipulated promotion deadline, Motors vehicles, Business and Industrial Capital Equipment, and Real Estate Ad Format listings will not be included in this promotion.

The following Business & Industrial categories are excluded from this promotion: tractors & farm machinery (91952), heavy equipment (25249), concession trailers, carts (67145), imaging and aesthetics equipment (92035), forklifts and other lifts (97185), manufacturing equipment (92080), metalworking equipment (92082) and commercial printing presses (26247).

Store Inventory Format listings that are created after 2:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2006 that are moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price listing will not be eligible.

The promotional rate also does not apply to listings moved from Store Inventory to Auction Format or Fixed Price listings during the promotion August 15-16, 2006, but scheduled to start after the promotion ends.

Click here to learn more.


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***Original: Stores to Auction & Fixed Price Format - 10 cent Listings & Free Gallery***

14 August, 2006 | 16:11

When is it? Two days only, starting Tuesday, August 15, 2006 between 00:00:01 ET (12:00 AM plus one second on Tuesday, August 15, 2006) and ending on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 23:59:59 ET (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds).

When is it? Move your Store Inventory Format listings to Auction Format & Fixed Price listings for 10 cents. In addition you get FREE Gallery on your Auction Format & Fixed Price listings. PLUS users who list in Auction Format with Buy It Now feature upgrade do not pay for the Buy It Now feature upgrade.

Insertion fees for Auction Format & Fixed Price listings that have been moved from Store Inventory Format will be revised as reflected in the fee table found here on eBay.com, eBay.ca and eBay Motors (Parts and Accessories only.)

Eligible Store Inventory Format listings that are moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price prior to the promotion and are scheduled to start during the promotional period of August 15-16, 2006 will be eligible for the promotional fee.

The reduced fees for this promotion will not be immediately reflected on the site. Users will receive a credit to their account by September 30, 2006 or before.

What is excluded? New Store Inventory format listings that have not been moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price per the stipulated promotion deadline, Motors vehicles, Business and Industrial Capital Equipment, and Real Estate Ad Format listings will not be included in this promotion.

The following Business & Industrial categories are excluded from this promotion: tractors & farm machinery (91952), heavy equipment (25249), concession trailers, carts (67145), imaging and aesthetics equipment (92035), forklifts and other lifts (97185), manufacturing equipment (92080), metalworking equipment (92082) and commercial printing presses (26247).

Store Inventory Format listings that are created after 2:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2006 that are moved to Auction Format or Fixed Price listing will not be eligible.

The promotional rate also does not apply to listings moved from Store Inventory to Auction Format or Fixed Price listings during the promotion August 15-16, 2006, but scheduled to start after the promotion ends.

Click here to learn more.


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***Win a $5,000 eBay shopping spree or $25 eBay Gift Certificate with the eBay Pop Hits! Sweepstakes***

15 August, 2006 | 21:24


Lisa Oda

Hello music and trivia buffs! – I’m Lisa Oda and I’m back to kick off a new promotion called the eBay Pop Hits! Sweepstakes. The eBay Pop Hits! Sweepstakes starts on August 16 and will test your knowledge of music hits from the 60’s through today. You can enter every day between August 16- 22 for chances to win a Grand Prize $5,000 USD eBay shopping spree or First Prize $25 USD eBay Gift Certificate. There'll be one Grand Prize winner and 100 First Prize winners every day!

For up to five more entries into a daily prize drawing, you music buffs can take the Pop Hits trivia challenge. Each day we'll post five music trivia clues that'll help you guess which pop songs of the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and today made eBay's list of hits. Simply choose song names from the drop-down menus provided on our trivia page. For each exact song name you choose, you'll get one entry into the daily prize drawing. Come back every day for new clues and chances to win!

The Pop Hits! Sweepstakes starts August 16th, so get ready to shop, buy, and win!

Sincerely,

Lisa Oda
eBay Marketing
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***A Great Loss for eBay***

14 August, 2006 | 13:31

On Friday, we were all deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Bob Hebeler, our Vice President of Seller Development. Bob was an avid cyclist and while out on one of his many regular rides, was involved in a terrible accident. He died from injuries sustained in the accident. Cycling was one of Bob's great passions. He died doing something that he truly loved.


Bob Hebeler

Bob and I both joined eBay in March of 2000. He was one of the pioneers in creating Category Management—a structure that lives on today. He has held various roles in the company including Community Development. More recently, Bob led the Seller Development team and our team in Canada. He and his team's work have been solely focused on developing stronger relationships with our sellers and providing better service. He was deeply committed and passionate about his work with the Community. Bob had a lot of integrity and always wanted to do the right thing for our business and the Community. This is a very tough loss for many of us. Bob was the rare individual who was liked and admired by virtually everyone he worked with. That's one of the reasons why this news is so difficult.

Bob's family was very important to him. Bob is survived by his wife Marie and their two children. He was just able to spend some quality time with them on a special extended family vacation. Bob will be laid to rest later this week in Chesaning, Michigan near his family farm.

We're in contact with Bob's family to offer our sympathy and help. For those of you who may like to express your sympathy and thoughts, we have opened a thread on the Seller Central board. If you would like to send condolences to Bob's family, please send them to:

Marie Hebeler and family
c/o eBay
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125

Please keep Bob and his family in your thoughts and prayers. I've also attached a link to a tribute to Bob from Jordan Banks, our Country Manager in Canada. His words capture, far better than I ever could, who Bob was and what he meant to all of us.

Bill Cobb


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***Announcing the winners of eBay’s first-ever NHL Playoff Hockey Pool!***

10 August, 2006 | 11:33

More than 90,000 eBay members signed up to put their hockey know-how to the test in eBay's first-ever NHL Playoff Hockey Pool!

As the hockey season wrapped up, 17 winners used their hockey savvy to skate their way to some incredible prizes.

In Round One, congratulations go to:
Shoperanonymous - winner of Sony 19" LCD Widescreen TV
winstonhockey_1234 - winner of Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera
cruetillidie & Tadonite - each winners of an iPod Nano (4GB)

In Round Two, congratulations go to:
jyice16 - winner of Sony 19" LCD Widescreen TV
nightriderblue - winner of Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera
hayley04 & the_dude_75 - each winners of an iPod Nano (4GB)

In Round Three, congratulations go to:
Skogsbar - winner of Sony 19" LCD Widescreen TV
torpedoman46 - winner of Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera
bayshorecooking & chrismattmark - each winners of an iPod Nano (4GB)

Overall prize winners:
1st place: danylol123, winner of C$5000 in eBay gift certificates
2nd place: markt1964, winner of C$1750 in eBay gift certificates
3rd place: minew1545, winner of C$1000 in eBay gift certificates
4th place: jimmyworrall, winner of C$750 in eBay gift certificates
5th place: hockeyturbo, winner of C$500 in eBay gift certificates

Please join us in congratulating these lucky contest winners.


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***Upcoming Workshop: An Information Session with Canada Post on the new Light Packet service, the current Letter-post service, printing labels with eBay’s online shipping tool, and more***

09 August, 2006 | 11:07


Ira Grossman


Hi...it's Ira Grossman from eBay Canada's Shipping team. I would like to invite you to attend the following workshop with Canada Post tomorrow:

Learn more about Light Packet, Letter-post, eBay’s Online Shipping tool, & more

Please join Kim from Canada Post who will be accompanied by Canada Post’s Gail Ryan - General Manager, International Product Management - and John Swettenham - General Manager, Marketing, Strategy and Planning, as they talk about their new Light Packet service, eBay’s online shipping tool, and more.

Date: Thursday, August 10th, 2006
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ET
Location: Canada Town Square Discussion Board

The Canada Post team will be available to explain the appropriate shipping services to use when shipping paper and non-paper goods, the benefits and features of printing your shipping labels with eBay’s online shipping tool, and more.

To submit your question in advance of the session, click here. We will also answer questions submitted to us live during the session.

These sessions are a great way for the leadership teams at Canada Post and eBay Canada to hear what's on your minds with respect to shipping. We encourage you to participate.

I hope you'll join us tomorrow.

Regards,

Ira  
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***5 FREE Listings - For Those Who Have Never Sold an Item ***

05 August, 2006 | 19:07

When is it? It starts Sunday, August 6, 2006 at 00:00:01 ET (one second after midnight on August 6, 2006) and ends Saturday, August 12, 2006 23:59:59 ET (one second before midnight on August 12).

Who is eligible? Any Canadian resident eBay member who has never listed any item for sale as well as those who have tried selling on eBay and never been successful. Only your first five listings will be eligible.

What is excluded? Motors vehicles, Stores Inventory Listings, Business and Industrial Capital Equipment and Real Estate Ad Format listings will not be included in this promotion. The feature fee for the Value Pack feature bundle (which includes Gallery) will remain unchanged. The promotional rate does not apply to listings that start before the promotional period, but are then revised between August 6-12, 2006. The promotional rate also does not apply to listings created during the promotion August 6-12, 2006, but scheduled to start after the promotion ends.

Click here to learn more.


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***Upcoming Workshop: An Information Session with PayPal***

04 August, 2006 | 08:09


Hi everyone, it’s Vaughan from eBay Canada’s Community Team. I would like to invite you to attend the following workshop with PayPal next Tuesday:

A Question and Answer Session with PayPal
Please join representatives from PayPal, as they discuss and address your PayPal questions, suggestions and ideas, including the recent announcement about the introduction of PayPal CA Limited (PayPal Canada).

Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET (1:00 -2:00 PM PT)
Location: Canada Town Square Board

You can submit your question here in advance of the session. We will also answer questions submitted to us live during the session.

I hope you'll join us next Tuesday, August 8.

Regards,

Vaughan


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***You could be the 2nd annual eBay Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year!***

01 August, 2006 | 10:14


Now in its 2nd year, the eBay Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year awards were developed to recognize, honour and reward entrepreneurial excellence within the Canadian eBay community.

Nominations for this prestigious honour are now being accepted.

Have you got what it takes?

To qualify, eligible members bust have attained the following criteria between April 1 and July 31, 2006:

  1. Achieve a minimum of $1,000 CDN in sales per month on eBay.ca/eBay.com or the sites combined
  2. Post a minimum of ten listings per month on eBay.ca/eBay.com or the sites combined
  3. Have at least 98% positive feedback

Submissions are only being accepted for consideration until August 20, 2006 so enter now!

To enter, click here or visit http://pages.ebay.ca/entrepreneurs/ for more information.

First prize is $5,000 CDN
Second Prize: $2,000 CDN
Third Prize: $1,000 CDN

All prizes awarded in Canadian dollars, and deposited into winner’s valid PayPal account.

Winners will be announced during Canadian Small Business Week in October.

Good Luck!
eBay
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